Indian Government initiatives on Biogas Bottling Technology Demonstration
projects (BGFP)
M.L. Bamboriya
Director
Ministry of New Renewable Energy
New Delhi
The world is undergoing a transformational change and adjustment because of simultaneous
global warming and an increase in crude oil prices, necessitating a paradigm shift towards
sustainable growth. India’s developmental needs require phenomenal growth of energy sector over
the next decade. There is also an urgent requirement of energy security. Renewable Energy sources
and applications are therefore, not only increasingly more relevant but also call upon us to attempt
to maximize and universalize their use as early as possible.
Energy is the key input for socio-economic development of any Nation. The fast
industrialization and rapid urbanization besides mechanized farming have generated a high demand
of energy in all forms i.e. thermal, mechanical and electrical. To meet this ever-increasing demand,
fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas have been overexploited in an unsustainable manner.
The overexploitations of fossil fuels have been posing serious environmental problems such as
global warming and climate change. While we have shortage of energy and more dependent on
imports in case of petroleum, we are fortunate enough to be blessed with plenty of natural sources
of energy (renewable) such as solar, wind, biomass and hydro. These sources are environmentally
benign and non-depleting in nature as well as are available in most parts of the country throughout
the year.
India is the only country in the world having an independent Union Ministry i.e. Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as well as Renewable Energy Nodal Agencies in each of
States/Union Territories. For the development and promotion for Renewable Energy, MNRE is the
nodal Ministry of the Government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy.
Renewable Energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass are emerging as viable
options for meeting energy requirements of various sectors in an environmentally benign manner.
Degradable wastes are also useful sources of energy. During the last 30 years, adequate
infrastructure for carrying out research and development, testing, demonstration and manufacturing
of renewable energy devices/systems has been established in the country. MNRE is encouraging
development and promotion of all renewable energy sources.
There has been consistent increase in the pace of renewable energy development and the
sector has grown from about 3900MW in 2002-03 to about 28,709 MW in June, 2013. Wind
Energy continues to dominate India’s renewable energy industry, accounting for 68% of installed
capacity (19,564MW), followed by small hydropower (3,686 MW), biomass power (3,602 MW)
and solar power (1,759MW). In terms of electricity generation, with normative capacity utilization
factors, the renewable power installed capacity is generating around 50 BU per year corresponding
to about 7% in the total electricity mix and 13% of total capacity. In addition, off-grid applications
of renewable energy have also made significant head way.
A capacity addition of about 30,000 MW is planned from various renewable energy
technologies during the 12th plan period. In this, Wind energy would contribute about 15,000 MW,
followed by solar power (10,000 MW), small hydropower (2,100 MW) and biomass power
(2,700 MW).
The Ministry has set up the Solar Energy Center (SEC) Gwalpahari, Gurgaon, Haryana,
with state-of-art facilities for testing of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic materials, devices and
systems. SEC also resort to applied research and training. A Centre for Wind Energy Technolgy
(CWET) has been set up in Chennai for providing technical support to the Ministry for
implementation of its wind energy programmes. Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of
Renewable Energy (SSS-NIRE), at Wadala Kalan, Dist. – Kapurthala (Punjab) is focused on
biomass energy research and development. For market development and financing of renewable
energy projects, a separate financing institution called the Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency (IREDA) has been set up as a public sector undertaking. During the year 2011-12, Solar
Energy Corporation of India (SECI), another public sector undertaking, has also been set up to
assist the Ministry in development, promotion and commercialization of solar energy technologies
in the country.
The country has an estimated renewable energy potential of around 85,000 MW from
commercially exploitable sources of Wind, Small Hydro and Biomass. In addition, India has the
potential to generate around 50MW per square km using solar photovoltaic and solar thermal
energy. The potential is under reassessment and is likely to increase substantially. In addition, there
is an estimated potential for around 140 million square meter solar thermal collector area and also
12 million household biogas plants.
India is implementing one of the world’s largest programmes in renewable energy. The
country ranks second in biogas utilization, fifth in wind power, fifth in small hydro and seventh in
photovoltaic production in the world. Renewable sources already contribute to about 13% of the
total power generating capacity in the country. Renewable Energy is the second largest source of
power generation after thermal.
Biomass resources such as cattle dung, agriculture wastes and other organic wastes have
been one of the main energy sources for the mankind since the dawn of civilization. There is a vast
scope to convert these energy sources into biogas. Biogas production is a clean low carbon
technology for efficient management and conversion of organic wastes into clean renewable biogas
and organic/bio manure. It has the potential for leveraging sustainable livelihood development as
well as tackling local and global land, air and water pollution. Biogas obtained by anaerobic
digestion of cattle dung and other loose and leafy organic matters/ biomass wastes can be used as
an energy source for various applications namely, cooking, heating, space cooling/ refrigeration,
electricity generation and gaseous fuel for vehicular application. Based on the availability of cattle
dung alone from about 304 million cattle, there exists an estimated potential of about 18,240
million cubic meter of biogas generation annually. The increasing number of poultry farms is
another source and can generate biogas of 2173 million cubic meters annually with 649 million
numbers of birds. Non-edible de-oiled cake from Jatropha and other plants also has a big potential.
In addition, kitchens of all the institutions, universities, restaurants, barat ghars, industries, parks
and gardens in urban and semi-urban areas also offer a very large potential. There is a need for
treating these wastes for better environmental condition and reducing methane emission affecting
climatic change. In addition to gaseous fuel, biogas plants do provide high quality organic manure
with soil nutrients which improves its fertility required for sustainable production and improving
productivity. Thus, there is a huge potential for the installation of medium size biogas plants in the
country.
Biogas comprises of 60-65% methane, 35-40% carbon dioxide, 0.5-1.0% hydrogen
sulphide, rests of water vapors etc. It is almost 20% lighter than air. Biogas, like Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG) cannot be converted into liquid state under normal temperature and pressure.
Removing carbon dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, moisture and compressing it into cylinders makes it
easily usable for transport applications & also for stationary applications. Already CNG technology
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has become easily available and therefore, bio-methane (purified biogas) which is nearly same as
CNG, can be used for all applications for which CNG are used. Purified biogas (bio-methane) has a
high calorific value in comparison to raw biogas.
The Central Sector Scheme on National Biogas and Manure Management Programme
(NBMMP), which mainly caters to setting up of family type biogas plants, has been under
implementation since 1981-82. National Biogas and Manure Management Programme provides for
central subsidy in fixed amounts, turn-key job fee linked with five year’s free maintenance
warranty; financial support for repair of more than five year old non- functional plants; training of
users, masons, entrepreneurs, etc.; publicity and extension; administrative charges or staff support;
Biogas Development and Training Centres (BDTC). In order to provide training support and
technical back-up, 13 biogas Development training centres (BDTCs) have been set up in
Universities, Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and other Technical Institutes.
India is the second largest country in the world for implementation of biogas programme.
Under this programme about 4.67 million biogas plants have been installed against the potential of
12 million of biogas plants in the country for cooking, lighting and pumping application and it is of
39% of the potential estimated for installation of biogas plants in the country.
Biogas based Distributed/Grid Power Generation Programme (BPGP) was launched in
January, 2006 for installation of biogas based power projects in the capacity range of 3kW to 250
kW to provide electricity to individual/community/grid. So far, such projects having total capacity
of about 3.2 MW have been installed in the country.
The Ministry is promoting energy recovery from waste through three schemes aimed at a
variety of waste, such as municipal solid waste, vegetable market and slaughter house waste, cattle
dung, agricultural residues and industrial waste, so far, such projects having total capacity of about
212 MW have been installed in the country.
The Ministry also supports Research, Design, Development & Demonstration (RDD&D) to
develop new and renewable technologies, processes, materials, components, sub-systems, products
& services, standards and resource assessment so as to indigenously manufacture for renewable
energy products and systems may be developed. 17 ongoing R&D projects on biogas have been
supported by the Ministry.
During the year 2008-09, a new initiative was taken for technology demonstration on biogas
bottling projects in entrepreneurial mode, for installation of medium size mixed feed biogas plants
for generation, purification and bottling of biogas under RDD&D policy of MNRE. Installation of
such plants aims at production of CNG quality of Compressed Biogas (CBG) to be used as
vehicular fuel in addition to meeting stationary & motive power and electricity generation needs in
a decentralized manner through establishment of a sustainable business model in this sector. There
is a huge potential for installation of such plants in various areas. Under the demonstration phase,
the Ministry has sanctioned a central financial assistance for a limited number of such projects for
implementation following an entrepreneurial mode in nine states namely Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Eight no. of biogas bottling projects of various capacities have been commissioned by the
promoters upto July, 2013 after obtaining licenses for filling and storage of compressed biogas in
CNG cylinders from Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), State Pollution Control
Board (PCB) etc.
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The details of commissioned biogas bottling projects are given below:
Sl.
No.
i
ii
iii
iv
v
State
Name of the project / organization
Maharashtra 1. Mr. N.C.
1 Mujumdar
Director
Ashok Biogreen Pvt. Ltd.,
Vill. Talwade, Tahasil Trimbak, Dist.-Nasik
Email: [email protected]
2. Dr. A.
2 V. Mohan Rao
Director
M/s Spectrum Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd.,
Vill. – Kodoli, Block –Panhala, Warana nagar,
Dist. –Kolhapur
Email. – [email protected]
Punjab
3. Dr. Ashwini Kumar Watts
Promoter
Anand Energy,
Vill.-Kalatibba, Teh.-Abohar, Dist.- Ferozepur
Email: [email protected]
4. Shri Sachin Dhawan
Partner
SASK Energy,
Vill.-Najabt Kukrian, P.O. Lubaniawali,
Tehsil & Dist. – Muktsar
Email: [email protected]
Karnataka 5. Mr. T. Anand
Director
Maltose Agri Products Pvt. Ltd.,
Vill.- Huskur, Post -Aralumallige, Tal.Doddaballapur, Dist.- Bangalore rural
E-mail: [email protected]
Haryana
Rajasthan
6. Mrs. Jyoti Marya
Partner
Shashi Energies,
Near Green Vally Public School, Ratiya Road
Tohana, Tehsil.- Tohana, Dist.- Fatehabad
Email: [email protected]
7. Mr. Abhay Sinha,
Managing Director
Option Energy Pvt. Ltd,
Shree Haryana Gaushala, Vill.&Block – Hansi,
Dist. Hissar
Email - [email protected]
8. Shri Din Dayal Singla,
Partner
Singla Bio-Energy,
Vill.-Siaghawali, Tehsil–Sadulsehar,
Dist. – Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan)
Email - [email protected]
Total
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Capacity of the plant
(m3/day)
500
8000
600
1000
1000
600
1000
1000
13700
The purity of biogas is about 98% Methane and this has being corroborated through tests
conducted by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and
compressed to 150-bar pressure for filling in cylinders. The purified biogas is equivalent/ similar to
CNG.
The purified biogas is filled in CNG cylinder and supplied to mid-day meal scheme, mess,
Hotel industries etc. for various purposes. The slurry/manure of biogas plant is being sold to the
farmers and used in liquid/solid form by them in agricultural crops. The field trials have indicated
the excellent growth in agro-production and substantial improvements in the quality. The slurry
which comes out of the biogas plant is directly or after drying used as organic/bio manure for
improving soil-fertility and reducing use of chemical fertilizers. It is also non-pollutant because it is
free from weed-seeds, foul smell and pathogens. The slurry is rich in main nutrients such as
Nitrogen, Potassium and Sodium (NPK) alongwith micronutrients - Iron & Zinc.
The salient features of Biogas bottling project of 600m3/day capacity installed at Shashi
Energies, Near Green Valley Public School, Ratiya Road Tohana, Tehsil.- Tohana, Dist.- Fatehabad
(Haryana) are given below:
Particulars
Quantity processed
Biogas generated
Purified Biogas
Purified Biogas
Purified Biogas
Cylinders
Slurry / Manure
Filled
(Figures mentioned for the month of November, 2012)
Description
Remarks
Cow dung, agricultural waste
372 MT
etc.
16740 NM3
9207 NM3
6444 kg
in
Equivalent to Rs. 3,86,640/- of
805 Cylinders
commercial LPG
Used as liquid bio-manure
316 Liters/day
worth of Rs. 1,10,600/-
This biogas bottling project will be able to replace fuel & fertilizer worth of about Rs. 24
lakh annually. The full cost of the project would be recovered within four to five years. The
separation and bottling of CO2 and extraction of Humic acid from slurry would further improve
viability of biogas bottling plants. The biogas bottling project provide three-in-one solution of
gaseous fuel generation, organic/bio manure production and wet biomass waste
disposal/management.
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The schematic diagram of the Biogas bottling project 600m3/day capacity installed at Shashi
Energies, Near Green Valley Public School, Ratiya Road Tohana, Tehsil.- Tohana, Dist.Fatehabad (Haryana) is given below:
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has prepared Indian Standard on biogas (biomethane) –
specification (IS 16087:2013) on the request of MNRE and the same has been printed. The biogas
(biomethane) for automotive application and piped network shall also comply with the
requirements given in Table 1, when tested in accordance with the methods given in column. 4.
This biogas (biomethane) may also be used for applications such as stationary engines or power
generators.
Table 1 Requirements for biogas (biomethane)
(Clause4.4)
Sl.
No.
Characteristic
Requirements
Method of Test, Ref to.
1
CH4, Percent, Min
2
Moisture, mg/m Max
3
H2S, mg/m Max
4
CO2+N2+O2, Percent, Max (v/v)
10
IS15130 (Part 3): 2002
5
CO2, Percent, Max (v/v),
4
IS15130 (Part 3): 2002
0.5
IS15130 (Part 3): 2002
3
3
90
IS 15130(Part 3): 2002
16
IS15641 (Part 2): 2006
30.3
ISO 6326-3: 1989
(When intended for filling in
cylinders)
6
O2, Percent, Max (v/v)
6
As such there is no pollution from biogas bottling plant. As a matter of fact, the biogasbottling plants are one of the most potent tools for mitigating climatic change by preventing black
carbon emission from biomass chulha since biogas is used as a cooking fuel and methane emissions
from untreated cattle dung and biomass wastes are also avoided. The purified biogas can be bottled
in CNG cylinders and wherever CNG is currently used, biogas bottling can be used as an
alternative.
There is a vast potential for the production of biogas in the country, which is currently
underutilized. In addition to the energy production, biogas plants also provide bio-manure and are
helpful in dealing with the problems of waste management, providing clean environment and
mitigating pollution in urban, industrial and rural areas. Biogas is also a prominent alternative to
petroleum fuel like LPG, CNG and diesel. Therefore, it is highly desirable to promote the
production of biogas and bio-manure plants in the country.
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